The International Film Festival Rotterdam supports film making, film producing and journalistic talent on several levels: the main festival section 'Bright Future' (including competitions for feature length and short films) presents recent works by first and second time filmmakers; Rotterdam's Hubert Bals Fund contributes to film projects in developing countries and CineMart organizes a trainee project for young film producers (Rotterdam Lab) in close collaboration with its partner organizations. Recognizing the important role of film criticism to the perception of independent cinema, the Rotterdam film festival organizes a trainee project for young film critics.
Project Description
The IFFR Trainee Project for Young Film Critics is a talent development program that offers up to six young (under 30 years), motivated and talented professional film critics from outside The Netherlands a chance to travel abroad for covering a major international film festival, to get acquainted with the Rotterdam film festival in particular and the broad range of independent cinema it offers.
The project was created in 1998 motivated by the fact that young and upcoming film critics get less opportunities to explore and sharpen their knowledge and views on independent and experimental cinema - and the festivals, like the International Film Festival Rotterdam, that present it.
Trainee Program
The program of the Trainee Project includes taking part in the Rotterdam FIPRESCI Jury meetings; exploring an assigned part of the festival; publishing a blog on the IFFR website and writing up to three contributions for the festival's newspaper Daily Tiger; taking part in expert meetings; reporting about the festival for own affiliation(s).
The past editions the Rotterdam film festival welcomed trainee film critics from:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Turkey, UK and USA.